Over the last six decades, Clive Davis — "The Man With the Golden Ear" — has had a singular impact on popular music, shaping the sounds and careers of talents ranging from Aerosmith to Barry Manilow, Aretha Franklin to Patti Smith, and Bruce Springsteen to Alicia Keys and Notorious B.I.G.

His official positions have included a stint as head of Columbia Records and the founder of the Arista and J labels, but his influence and esteem are greater than any one job title — a point driven home each year by the roster of A-list talents who perform at his annual event hosted with the Recording Academy, the Pre-GRAMMY Gala.

Davis, 85, was recently the subject of a compelling documentary, fittingly titled Clive Davis: The Soundtrack Of Our Lives. And on Jan. 27, he'll preside over the 2018 installment of the Pre-GRAMMY Gala, which will see Jay-Z receive the Academy's Salute To Industry Icons Award.

With GRAMMY Week 2018 upon us, and with several new projects still filling his amazingly busy schedule, Davis took the time to talk about his reaction to the film, his enduring relationships with artists, and a few of his favorite Pre-GRAMMY Gala memories.

What was your reaction the first time you saw Clive Davis: The Soundtrack Of Our Lives?
I was really moved. I had no role in it other than being interviewed for it so until I saw the completed film — I'd never seen the footage of each of the other people that were interviewed for it . You know, this business is often ephemeral but seeing how many artists participated in the film — to see Simon And Garfunkel reminisce about how I picked "Bridge Over Troubled Water" as a single, to hear the memories of Patti Smith, Bobby Weir of the Grateful Dead, Dionne and Aretha, Jennifer Hudson and Santana and Alicia Keys — that really was a thrill.

When I wrote my autobiography, I was thrilled with how well it did — but someone could always say, "Well, that's his version." When you see the documentary and see that these artists did not forget, and you see that our relationships were something reciprocal — that moved me greatly. It really did.

"The first time you hear a particular talent rise to its peak with a particular piece of material, it's a chilling, spine-tingling moment."

You've helped artists begin careers, maintain careers and revive careers. How has your role shifted in those situations?
When you sign an artist from scratch they're relying on your musical expertise for guidance — not for molding but for guidance. You're really trying to bring the best possible audience to them without bastardizing their creativity, and I'm very proud of the matchups of songs and artists that were a part of launching the careers of Janis Joplin, Bruce Springsteen, Carlos Santana, Whitney Houston, Alicia Keys, and many others.

When you design a comeback — it's different. Rod Stewart came to me with his idea of doing The Great American Songbook and we worked together on it. In that case, you're dealing with a seasoned artist so all the awareness of the talent is there. There's no guidance needed — it's more a collaboration. That applies to bringing Santana back with "Smooth" or working with Aretha or Dionne all these years, or Barry Manilow's Greatest Songs albums. There's tremendous gratification in saying to an artist, "Yes, maybe you're not as big as you used to be but you should be. Your talent is prodigious and unique, and you've got many more years left in your career."

So many different types of artists have benefited from your "golden ear." Can you explain your ability to work with such a range of talents and musical styles?
You have to begin by understanding that each artist is an individual, and while you're looking for those artists that could be headliners, you use very different criteria. You're going to judge Santana differently from Dionne Warwick and Billy Joel different from Whitney Houston. The first time you hear a particular talent rise to its peak with a particular piece of material, it's a chilling, spine-tingling moment. But the extra thrill for me is how long the careers have lasted for so many of the artists that I have signed or have worked with, and how many of them are still doing wonderful work.

Your Pre-GRAMMY Galas have long been a major component of GRAMMY Week. Do you have some favorite moments from those celebrations?
Many, many, many. One special memory comes from the first time Alicia Keys performed "Fallin'" at the gala as a new artist. I told her that the good news was that I was going to introduce her to the industry. The bad news was that she was going to have to follow Gladys Knight singing "Midnight Train To Georgia." Hearing an all-time great artist and a new bright light deliver incredible performances back-to-back was wonderful.

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I vividly remember Carlos Santana and Rob Thomas performing "Smooth" before most people had even heard the record. We decided to break the record by having it performed at the gala, and the place went nuts. Word of mouth spread and the rest is history.

One other vivid memory among many happened in 2000, the year I was leaving Arista to form J Records. I decided that there would only be two artists performing that year — Carlos and Whitney. The first half of the evening was Carlos Santana playing all the hits that he and I had been involved with. Then Whitney came on, just at the top of her form, and sang every song directly to me. So, it all took on new meaning as she sang "I Believe In You And Me" and "I Will Always Love You." Of course, the emotion of that was tremendous.

Maybe it's crazy to ask, but are there still things you hope to accomplish?
I've got to tell you — this documentary based on my life entered the iTunes best-selling documentaries at No. 1. I've always been on the other side of the desk, but for me personally to be at No. 1 was a new thrill. And I'm involved with other projects — I'm working with Johnny Mathis and I'm in the studio with Jennifer Hudson. There are a number of projects that are exciting to me.

So you still get some of those spine-tingling moments?
I certainly do. That's why I do what I do.

(Chuck Crisafulli is an L.A.-based journalist and author whose most recent works include Go To Hell: A Heated History Of The Underworld, Me And A Guy Named Elvis, Elvis: My Best Man, and Running With The Champ: My Forty-Year Friendship With Muhammad Ali.)

Cardi B To Jay-Z: Inside The 2018 Pre-GRAMMY Gala

Clive Davis' and the Recording Academy's annual Pre-GRAMMY Gala is one of the hottest tickets of not only GRAMMY Week, but the whole year. This year's edition on Jan. 27 at Sheraton New York Times Square in New York City did not disappoint.

It wasn't all just brushing elbows at a swanky hotel — don't forget the performances. Luis Fonsi gave it his all on a rendition of "Despacito" while Alicia Keys sang her heart out on a Jay-Z medley. Vocal powerhouse Gladys Knight showed the crowd how it's done with "Stand By Me" and "Midnight Train To Georgia." Khalid took the audience through his "Young, Dumb & Broke." And that's just a taste.

2018 Pre-GRAMMY Gala

The evening also paid special tribute to 21-time GRAMMY winner and current nominee Jay Z, who received the annual 2018 Salute To Industry Icons Award for his significant contributions to the music industry and philanthropic endeavors. He joins past honors such as Herb Alpert, Irving Azoff, Lucian Grainge, Debra L. Lee, and Berry Gordy, among others.

On your average Saturday evening in New York City, there are a lot of hot tickets in town. But no ticket packed more heat than the one that gained entrance to Clive Davis' And The Recording Academy's Pre-GRAMMY Gala.

2018 Pre-GRAMMY Gala

Hosted at the Sheraton Times Square, the traditional party convened a cornucopia of stars spanning business, music, film, TV, and sports. Where else are you going to see the head of Starbucks, Martha Stewart and Cardi B in the same room? Only at Clive Davis' event and only in New York.

While Davis was the emcee, the night's guest of honor was 21-time GRAMMY winner — and eight-time 60th GRAMMY nominee — Jay-Z, who received the 2018 Salute To Industry Icons award in recognition of his unparalleled career as a rapper, businessman and philanthropist. The evening's performances paid tribute to both Hova and the vitality of the Big Apple. Here are 12 highlights from the program.

Barry Manilow Sparkles For New York

"What better artist to celebrate New York?" said Davis as he introduced the evening's first performer. Donning a sparkly black blazer, Brooklyn's own Barry Manilow dazzled with a two-song medley that doubled as a snapshot of the GRAMMYs' return to New York. He performed "This Is My Town," the title track to his 2017 album championing his home city, as well as an upbeat take of the Big Apple classic Frank Sinatra made famous, "Theme From New York, New York."

Luis Fonsi Spices Up The Night

Breakout Latin pop star Luis Fonsi lit up the room with his performance of "Echame La Culpa," coaxing most of the superstar audience out of their seats to dance to the infectious groove. Fonsi followed up with his biggest hit — and the biggest hit of the past year — "Despacito," proving the song is worthy of its three GRAMMY nominations going into Sunday's ceremonies.

Migos Bring Southern Rap Center Stage

Migos — Quavo, Offset and Takeoff — took command of the stage and dropped some rap in the form of their GRAMMY-nominated viral hit "Bad And Boujee." The Atlanta trio's rhymes were ruthless as the booming low end permeated the ballroom, knocking over a wine glass or two. Migos are also up for Best Rap Album for Culture.

Ben Platt Waves Hello

It's impossible to separate New York City from Broadway, and as one of the Big Apple's oldest traditions, there are few musical platforms with more star-making power. Ben Platt of the cast of GRAMMY-nominated show "Dear Evan Hanson" delivered a rousing rendition of "Waving Through A Window" that gave the crowd a look into not only why his show has been such a success, but also why he's a center-stage talent who is here to stay. The performance also served as a nice warm-up for Platt, who will be taking the GRAMMY stage on Sunday.

More Broadway With Leslie Odom Jr.

The authentic sounds of "Hamilton" were appropriately represented with Leslie Odom Jr. helming "The Room Where It Happens." The hit musical has reinvigorated theater all over the world, and given NYC is "Hamilton"'s backyard, Odom's flare positively electrified the ballroom. "'Hamilton' was a love letter to the inspiration that so many of you have provided us," he said.

Gladys Knight Reigns Supreme

On a night with this many stellar performances, it's impossible to pick just one standout. But perhaps even the stellar performers themselves would agree that Gladys Knight brought the house down. Starting with "Stand By Me," which wowed the crowd to their feet, Knight proved she can still command the stage. At Davis' request, she then performed "Midnight Train To Georgia," sending the room into a frenzy with nostalgia, reverence and excitement that seemed impossible to top.

Alicia Keys Stuns With Jay-Z Tribute

Described as the "quintessential Renaissance woman" by Davis, Alicia Keys positively mesmerized the audience — including Jay-Z himself — with an inventive medley of the fellow GRAMMY winner's songs.

"I'm here tonight to do something really special for me, for us," said Keys. "I'm here to honor one of the greatest that's ever done it. I'm also here because before anything else I was a true fan of your music Jay. I still am."

Leading the charge at the piano, Keys then proceeded to play her "favorite joints" from Hova's catalog, taking the audience on a thrill ride through various moods and textures. The packed medley included excerpts from "Feelin' It," "Hard Knock Life," "Holy Grail," "Run This Town," "I Just Wanna Love U (Give It 2 Me)," and "Empire State Of Mind." The once-in-a-lifetime performance seemed almost too good to be true.

"That was like a dream," she said before leaving the stage.

Jan 26, 2018 – 12:39 pm

Alicia Keys & Swizz Beatz Accept 2018 P&E Honors

Jay-Z's Speech

Introduced by Recording Academy President/CEO Neil Portnow as the "ultimate music person" — and drawing a "Hova, Hova" chant — Jay-Z was visibly humbled by his recognition when he took the podium. During his Salute To Industry Icons speech, he thanked everyone from his wife Beyoncé to the Academy and Alicia Keys for her tribute.

Jay-Z also commended his fellow peers in the audience, many of them past GRAMMY winners and current nominees, and urged them to keep the path. "It's our duty to make sure that not only are we making the greatest art, that we're upholding and supporting things that are super real," he said.

As he left stage, Jay-Z clutched his new award and remarked, "This s*** is super heavy."

Introducing Khalid

It's easy to forget on a night with so many massive names in the music world that Khalid, the teen pop prodigy, as some have called him, is up for a whopping five GRAMMYs this year. The young man from El Paso, Texas, reminded us why as he effortlessly sauntered through his laid-back hit "Young, Dumb & Broke." It is Khalid's ability to be natural that shows why he's had such a breakout year, and by nailing this high-pressure performance plus Davis' endorsement, why he's here to stay.

Khalid And Logic's Poignant Moment

It's been a bright spot in music over the past year and Logic and Khalid's moving "1-800-273-8255" proved to uplift the gala as well. The anthem for suicide prevention is truly about reaching people to let them know that there is help. And fittingly, Logic saluted Jay-Z for his help in being one of his primary inspirations.

Jennifer Hudson Channels Aretha

Just when the crowd of celebrities and music industry executives thought maybe they'd seen it all, Jennifer Hudson took the stage to honor the great Aretha Franklin with a trio of numbers, starting with "Spirit In The Dark." Hudson demonstrated why she's today's go-to powerhouse singer as her voice climbed up and swooped down on "Oh Me Oh My," giving the gala's guests much more than their money's worth. To close the show, she launched into the Aretha classic, "Think," saying "This one's for me." She brought the house down with her soaring and soulful vocal work, channeling her hero, and enjoying every note.

On Jan. 25 Billboard magazine unveiled its Power 100 list, honoring the current players who are blazing new paths and scaling new horizons in the music industry, The annual GRAMMY Week event in celebration of the new list was hosted at Manhattan, New York's chic Nobu 57, drawing music industry magnates and top-selling artists as well as the honorees of Billboard's Visionary, Executive of the Year and Label of the Year awards.

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With the idea of the Power 100 list, the concept of power and what it means to those in the industry takes on different meanings.

For Daniel Glass, founder and president of Glassnote Entertainment (and No. 81 on the list), the P in power stands for passion.

"I think power moves the needle and really furthers the development of music and artist," said Glass. "I think it comes with respect, passion and perseverance."

"Power ought to be a couple of things," noted Neil Portnow, President/CEO of theRecording Academy, who ranked as No. 44 on the list. "In our business, it ought to be good judgment and particularly the ability to judge talent and art and recognize the next generations that are coming through. Power also has to do with creating an environment where an artist's career can flourish and soar. Power is just being fair and open-minded and mentoring and bringing along the next generation of music people and executives."

"I think a lot of people at the party here do lead by example," said Pentatonix member Kirstin Maldonado. "They are very powerful in what they stand for and how they use their power."

2018 Billboard Power 100

Mentors have been important for many people on the list, ranging from parents to music teachers to executives to other artists who fostered future talent. They have left indelible impressions on those they've worked with.

When asked about mentoring in today's business world, which has changed measurably over the last decade, Adam Alpert, CEO of Disruptor Records and Selector Songs (No. 76), remarked, "It's hard to bridge that generational gap, but those who are able to are fortunate. What is more prevalent is the younger generation working more together and trying to help each other more. And realizing that it's not so much about competition but there's room for everyone to be successful and there's always room for more great music."

Artists at the event also offered words of advice for younger people who wanted to follow in their footsteps, even being younger themselves. Pentatonix's Scott Hoying recalled how his group said yes to everything, taking on many gigs, creating as much content as possible and meeting whomever they could meet.

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"Saying yes, gaining momentum and creating a network is so important," said Hoying. "A lot of people say no to a lot of things because they're nervous or anxious about it, but stepping outside of your comfort zone is what is going to make you grow."

Harrison Mills, one half of GRAMMY-nominated electronic duo Odesza, feels that authenticity is sometimes unappreciated, or not as important to some people as it should be.

"Copping trends can really hurt you in the long run," he said. "If you're trying to build a career, think about how you want to sound in 10 years — think about yourself and what you want to represent and not a trend."

Sep 6, 2017 – 9:31 am

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On the business side, Glass stressed learning the history of the business. "Learn what the predecessors did to pave the way," he advised. "It's really important to respect the past before you go forward."

The awards presentation was a good place to start, as it highlighted individuals whose careers have flourished and thrived in the long haul, building upon lessons from the past.

"After three decades of experience, she has built a truly wonderful track record identifying and developing talent," said Davis. "She is the highest-ranking female executive in music and the only female global chairman in music and she's the first woman CEO of a major music publishing company."

Gerson's signings have included the Bee Gees, Prince, Adele, Coldplay, and many others. Upon accepting the award, She told Davis, "I actually learned how to be a publisher by pitching songs to you for all those years." She joked that he turned most of them down initially, but that experience taught her resilience.

Atlantic Chairman/COO Julie Greenwald and Chairman/CEO Craig Kallman accepted the award for Label of the Year, sharing the honor with their superiors, dedicated staff and artists. The company had the biggest album of 2017 with Ed Sheeran's ÷, which sold the equivalent of 2.8 million albums. They had the first Hot 100 No. 1 single in 19 years from a female rapper, Cardi B with "Bodak Yellow." They also scored five of the most streamed songs of last year.

Live Nation Entertainment CEO/Director Michael Rapino topped the Power 100 list this year. Since joining Live Nation in 2005, he quadrupled the company's enterprise value. It is now up to $9 billion, and Billboard estimates that the company accounted for 64 percent of the tickets sold in North America in 2017.

"I think it's a great time in the business," Rapino told the crowd upon accepting the Executive of the Year award. "Sometimes we have a live versus recorded debate and we love both sides of the business, but it's great to see the live side doing well, helping sell some concert tickets and some music. It's equally great to see subscription and record labels booming and growing back. Both sides are incredible. There are 41 new entries on the [Power 100] list, so hopefully we get a whole new generation of young, diverse individuals, both on live and recorded, continuing to make this the best place to work."

After the ceremony, John Amato, president of the Billboard-Hollywood Reporter Media Group expressed his pleasure at seeing the GRAMMYs returning to New York City this year for the milestone 60th GRAMMY Awards for the first time in 15 years and commended Portnow as a "true visionary."

"I really love working with him on this event as well as our GRAMMY contenders issue," Amato said. "I'm so excited for the show."

For Portnow, who was born and raised in New York, and who started his career here, the GRAMMYs return to New York is special and exciting.

"Everybody's pumped," declared Portnow. "I think the excitement is palpable. There are a lot of statistical reasons why we should be here. Half our members are east of the Mississippi. Half of the business is here. New York being the home of so many iconic and important music styles. The venues and the clubs and the history."

He views this trip back to New York as a chance to experiment and try new things never done before. He noted that while some may be rousing successes and some may not, it will be an exciting learning and growing experience for the GRAMMY Awards.

Inside The 2018 P&E Wing Celebration

Held at the iconic Rainbow Room, perched 65 floors above the landmark Rockefeller Center, the exclusive, invite-only event brought together the community of recording studio professionals in a new way this year. The room was filled with industry titans, such as GRAMMY winners Peter Asher, Ed Cherney, Tony Visconti, and Chick Corea, and current GRAMMY nominees Morgan Heritage and Lisa Loeb — all of whom came out to celebrate their craft and honor Keys and Dean.

Upon arrival, the couple was greeted on the red carpet with the first of several spontaneous group singings of "Happy Birthday," meant for Keys, who coincidentally received this honor on her birthday. And the excitement of the evening was two-fold for the birthday girl in light of being honored side-by-side with her husband.

"The coolest thing, I think, for [The Producers & Engineers Wing] to honor both of us is that we do very different music," said Keys. "There is no limit to the music, and how it can be created and how it touches people, and to celebrate … our different styles, that's what I love the most because music doesn't just happen in one way. Everyone in that room does music differently, and we're all dope for it."

A 15-time GRAMMY winner, Keys exemplifies versatility, making her mark in the music world as a singer/songwriter and producer, as well as an actress, author, activist, and philanthropist. Since the 2001 release of her debut album, Songs In A Minor, Keys has sold more than 30 million albums worldwide.

However, her impact on music and culture reaches far beyond sales tallies. The New York native's message of female empowerment and her authentic songwriting process have made her an inspiration for women and aspiring creatives worldwide.

"There's a ton of things I'm passionate about," said Keys, "and to continue to share our experience and go deeper into how we can collectively create powerful change is definitely a focus for me.

Swizz Beatz has helmed countless big records dating all the way back to 1998 when he produced his first hit, DMX's "Ruff Ryders' Anthem." In his career spanning more than two decades, he's worked in multiple genres with artists such as Jay-Z, Madonna, Kanye West, and Metallica.

"He helped paint the picture for hip-hop as it is today," said GRAMMY-winning producer and current GRAMMY nomineeJimmy Douglass.

His deep influence on modern hip-hop aside, Swizz Beatz went on to graduate from Harvard Business School's Owner/President program and has built a legacy and a body of work that cannot be contained by the recording studio walls. He entered into a joint venture with Clive Davis at age 23. He's since gone on to launch successful ventures into fashion design, fine art, and philanthropy on his way to becoming a renowned cultural ambassador and natural born modern-day Renaissance man.

Alicia Keys & Swizz Beatz Accept 2018 P&E Honors

"This is a major honor, this is a blessing to see so many creative people in one room," Swizz Beatz said as the couple took the stage. "I never would have expected to be on this stage, especially next to this shining bright star. It shows you that hard work doesn't go unnoticed.

"To all the creatives in the building," Keys said, addressing the crowd, "May we all continue to be inspired, may we all continue to be brave, may we all continue to be unafraid of being our brightest best selves. … There is no limit to what we can do and how far we can go."

Dean added, "The sky is not the limit, it's just the view," and the room whipped into a frenzy.

Following the couple's acceptance speech, a special guest was called to the stage to pay tribute to the honorees: GRAMMY-winning jazz-fusion pioneer Chick Corea.

"Everyone in that room does music differently, and we're all dope for it." — Alicia Keys

"Swizz and Alicia are living works of art, so this is dedicated to them," Corea announced before leading the room in a sing-a-long rendition of "Spain," as requested by Keys herself.

Then the jam ensued. Corea called Keys and Dean back to the stage to play, sans rehearsal. They broke into an impromptu version of "Summertime," with Keys trading soulful vocal runs with Corea's mind-bending piano licks, followed by an improvised jam that featured Swizz on beatbox, Corea weaving the keys through his rhythms, and Keys leading an audience down-home call-and-response.

2018 P&E Wing Celebration

It's safe to say this night was special, not only for the stars of the show but for the community of hard-working producers and engineers the Recording Academy — and the P&E Wing — support and represent.

Some of the content on this site expresses viewpoints and opinions that are not those of the Recording Academy. Responsibility for the accuracy of information provided in stories not written by or specifically prepared for the Academy lies with the story's original source or writer. Content on this site does not reflect an endorsement or recommendation of any artist or music by the Recording Academy.